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H.F, FREULER ANDC. L. M OHRILL. DIECORTICATNG MACHINE.

m Patented Auf, 29, 1922,

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H. F. FREULER AND C. l.. MORRILL DECORTICATING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED J-LlNE 4,. 1919. 29,

l0 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

H. F. FREULER ANDC. L. -MIIRILL.`

DEcoRTIc/ITING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED :uur 4.19.19. 1 ,427,20 1 Patented Aug. 29, Y1922 l Ip SHEETS-SHEET a.

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APPLICATloNjHLEDJuNE 4,19`19. PatentedAug 29,

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APPLICATION FILED .IUNE 4,19I9.

Patented Aug. 29, 1922.

I0 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

arks Afa/'fill WMI H. F. FREULER AND C.q L. MORRILL.

DECORTICATING MACHINE.

APPLlcATioN FILED lune 4,1919.

Patented Aug. 29, 1922.

l0 SHEETS-SHEET 6.

H. F. FBEULER AND c. L. MORRILL. DECORTICATING MACHINE.

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HQF. FREU'LER AND' c. L. MoRRlLL. DECORTICATING MACHINE. APPLICATION-FILED IUNE 4,1919.

1,427,201. PatentedAug. 29, 1922.,

l0 SHEETS-SHEET 8.

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H. F. FREULER AND C. L. MORRILL.

DECORTlCATING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MINE 4. 1919.

1,I.g7,201,4 PaIenIedAug. 29 1922.

I0 SHEETS-SHEET 9L H.'F. FREAULER AND C. L. MORRILL. Inconnu/wma MACHINE.

, APPLICATION FILED LUNE 4,1919. 4 l,427,201. .Patented Aug. 29, 1922.

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nnnnnnr nannten .inn onenessr` rifivro'nnrrri, or BERKELEY, CALIFORNIA, nssrenons fro main-estrena 'einen coiernnv, nrn., or rio-nonnina, TERRITORY or nav/nir A conronn'rron or fri-rn rnnnrron or Hawaii.

lInseenrisentire#:ivreeiiiivn ifiavsei.

To @ZZ fui/lem t may concern:

Be it known that we, HERBERT F.. FREU- Lnn and @immens L, Moneum, citizens of the United States, residing at Berkeley, in the county of Alameda and State oi California, have invented certain new and uset'ul lmprovements in Decorticating Machines, `of which the following is a specilication. l

The present invention is a decorticating machine particularly designed for use in the treatmenty of. Musa sopz'entum (banana stalks) however may be used in connection with Masa text/Zie (Manila hemp) or other similar ibrous stock of the endogen variety. The principal object of the invention is-the production oi a machine of the above character whichwill operate in an efficient manner in the treatment oll the stock for which it is particularly designed and which ptosu sesses a simple and economical construction having great durability.

One of the principal iieatures of the in-y vention resides in the pulp-strip ping mechanism which first acts upon the iibrous stock to sever the pulp therefrom and discharge it from the machine in a lacerated state. The fibrous portion oiv the stock is then passed through crushing rollers and thence to an outside scraping mechanism to remove he outer bark or cuticle covering the iiber. ,his scraping meclianism consists oi? plurality oi?y scraping knives mounted, Apreferably, on an endless chain in order that the knivesl will extend at right angles to the stock being treatedthereby, and will move in a straight line during the scraping treatmeut or operatioiii. iroin the out-side scraping mechanisism `the librous stockpasses to :ii'finside scrapingineclianism, consisting ot a series ci rotary'knives. lileed rollersl are provided for passing the i'ibrous stoel7 trom one mechanism to the other and are oper'- ated substantially the same rate` of speed. Tne scraping mechanisms above referred to are operated at a greater rate of speedthan the feed rollers, thereby causing va strip' et fibrous stock, which is being treated, to have vits rear end portion, which is about to be passed trom a mechanism, whipped around by the blades ot the mechanism in order that the opposite tace ol? the 'strip of liber stock will be subjected its tail or rearportion to the action oit the scraping knives. The knives et the outside scraping mechanism specification afnemers restent. Pmegn-ged img 29, 1922.

Application le'd fune 4,

li. Serial No. 301,626.

are yieldably mounted to have a sliding movement under pressure away from the stock and at right angles thereto, while the knives oit the inner scraping mechanism are rigidly constructed and have no such yieldmg movement. This construction is designed to provide for varyingvconditions which arise in the treatment of the stock for which the machine is designed, and it is found that the best results are obtained by the construction shown.

The pulp-stripping mechanism is detachable from the rest oi the machine, as occasion may arise where such mechanism is not needed. i

The invention further resides in sundry details oi" construction, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully specified and defined in the specification. l

ln this speciiication and the vannexed drawings, we disclose our invention in the form which we consider the best, but we do not limit our invention to such form because it may be embodied in other forms, and it is to be understood that in and by the claims following the description herein, we intend to cover our invention in whatever form it may ybe embodied. y

lieterringto the drawings: Y

Figure l. is a side elevation of our invention with the driving removed.

Figure 2 is affront elevation oi our in- .vention Figure 3 is a cross sectional view on an enlarged scale oi the pulp-stripping mechanism taken on line oi Figure 2. f

liigure d; is a side view oi? the spring guide plates olf the mechanism.

Higure 5 is a rear view ot one ol said guide plates. I

Figure 6 is a side view of the splitting knives oiE thestripping me jnanism.

Figure 7 is a rontview oi part of the splitting knives ot -the* stripping mechanism.

Figure 8 is va iront view of the spring guide plates ott` the stripping mechanism and the channel bar on which said plates are mounted.

Figure k9 a side View of the outside endchain scraping mechanismior scraping the outside oilg the fibrous plant.

Figure l0 is a side view of a portion of the outside endless chain of said scraping meehanisi'n.

Figure 11 is a sectional view of one of the links of said chain with a knife spring mounted the-rein, forming one of the scrapinO' units of said scraping mechanisml *igure 12 is a plan View of one of the knives of said scraping mechanism and a link in which said knife is mounted.

Figure 13 is a front View of oneof the springpresser platesof said scraping mechanism.

Figure 14 is a side View of said presser plate and the spring mounting' means therefor, said means being shown partly .in section.

-Figure l15 is a side View ofone of the end disks ofthe drum scraping mechanism which scrapes the insideof the fibrousplant.

Figure 16 is a plan of one of the slats `whichiconnect the end disks of the drum of said drum lscraping mechanism.

Figure 17 is a View of the driving'ineans of the drum of the insidescraping mech- Aanism.

Figure 1S is a cross section ofthe drum and lknives of 1the inside scraping mechanism taken on line 18-18 of Figure 20.

Figure 19 is a plan of one of the knives of the rdrum scraping mechanism.

Figure 2O is a longitudinal section ofthe drum scraping mechanism taken on line 20-2O of Figure 1.

Figure 21 isa side View of the presser means of the drum scraping mechanism for pressing the vplant against the scraping knives of said mechanism.

Figure 22 is a rear rView of the presser plate of said pressermeans.

Figure 23 is a plan of the stripping knife blade.

Figure 24 is a side View of the driving vgear atthe left side of the machine.

Figure 25 is a right side View of the gearing of the machine.

Figure 26 is a cross section of a stock of the stalk of a banana tree before it is treated by our machine.

Figure 27 is a cross section of said stock after it has'passed through the pulp-stripping mechanism.

Figure 28 is a cross section of the stock after its pulp has been stripped therefrom and its outside skin scraped by our machine.

Figure 29 isa cross section of the fiber obtained from the stock after its pulp has been removed therefrom, its outside skin scraped and the pulp on its inside `scraped by our machine.

Figure 30 is a side View of one of the outside tail scraper plates.

Figure 31 is a plan of said outside tail scraper plate.

Figure 32 is an enlarged fragmentary face View of three ofthe inside scraping knives illustrating their edges'.

In the drawings, 1 indicates a main frame including two side members 2 and 3 and connecting members d, 5 and 6 which connect said side members together.A The frame members 2 and 3 are mounted on runners 7. Each frame member includes a base 8 which rests upon and is secured to a runner 7, and uprights 9 10 and 11 upstanding from said base. The connect-ing members el. are threaded on their ends and extend'through the side frame members 2 and 3 and nuts 12 screw on said threaded ends against said members whereby .the ends of the connecting members are y connected to the members 2 and 3. The connecting member (i eXtends-aerossthe rear `face of the uprights 9 of side members 2 and 3 kand .is bolted thereto by bolts 13. The member 5 has end flanges 14 Ywhichare bolted to (the inside of uprightsl() of members 2 and 3 by bolts ,15.

:Pulp-stripping mec/ia'n/Saa-@n 'top of the nprights 10 .and 11 of the side frame members 2.and 3 rests side frames ,16 and lrespectiyely of the pulp-stripping mechanism. `Fach of said frames 1G and 17 includes afrear section 1S anda front section `19. Fach of the section 13 has a ba:y 2() Vwhich rests .upon the uprights 10 and extends forwardly and rests upon the uprights 11 of the frame members 2 and 3. .T he section 13 isbolted tothe uprights 10 by bolts 21, and the bases .2O thereof each has a vlug 22 depending from its forward end into the upper end of the channel upright 11 of the frame members 2 and 3, respectively. ingle braces .23 are secured at one end to the uprights 10 of frame members 2 and 3 by bolts 2 -1 while their other ends extend between the forward wall of channel upright 11 and lug 22 (see Fig. The frame section 19 rests upon the bases 2O ofsection 18 and has lugs 25 which depend over the forward edge of said bases and engages the front wall of the uprights 11 at the upper end of said uprights. The f ame sections 1S and 19 are secured to tl iel upper ends of the .u )rights 11 by bolts 26 which extend .through and bolt together the upper end of the front wall of said uprights, the upper ends of angle braces 23 and the lugs 22 and 2. The rear of the section 19 is bolted to the upper forward portion of the section 18 by bolts 27. Feed rollers 30 and 31 are mounted in the forward part of frame section 19, the roller 39 being journaled at its ends in said frame section and the roller 31 being journaled at their ends in sliding blocks 32slidably mounted in guides 33 in the upper forward part of the frame section 19. rlop plates 34 are bolted to the top of guides 33 through which plates extend screws 35 from the blocks 32. Springs 36 surround the screws 35 between the blocks 32 and plate 34. and tend to force the roller 31 into contact with roller 30.

Hand nuts 37 screw on the upper ends of screws 35 against the plates 84 by means of which the-roller 81 may be elevated slightly above the roller 81 against the tension of spring 86. A channel member 410 having upstanding end flanges 411 provided with.

vertical slots 42 is adjustablysecured to the,

fran'ie section 19 by bolts Z18 which extend through said slots. A pivot rod Ll5 is mounted in blocks L16 screwed to 4the lower wall of channel 10 on which rod are pivotally mounted a pluralityfof spring guides 17, said guides having knuckles 18 through which said rod extends.` rlhe guides 47 are angular shaped having an upright member L19 on which are formed the knuckles 48,

and a rearwardly extending member 50 over f which the bre passes from between the rollers 80 and 81. @n the inner face of the intermediate wall of channel member 4.0 are studs 51 and on the rear face of the wall of the guide members d? are studs 52' termediate wall thereof, said knives havingl upper horizontal cutting edges 61 which' eX- tend rearwardly from the channel 40 to a point 62, see Fig. 6. A knife 65 is mounted upon the side frames of the section 19, slightly in rear of the splitting knives 60, for stripping the pulp from the plant, which lknife 65 includes a bracket 6G and a detachable blade 67 secured to the top of the bracket by screws 88. end flanges 69 provided with vertical slots 70 and is secured to the side frames of the section 19 by bolts 71 extending through said slots, and the blade 67 has a forward horizontal edge 72 located above and to the rear ofthe points of the splitting knives 60. Above the knife 65 is a guide 7 5 extending between the frame sections 19 and secured to said section by screws .76 extending through flanges 77 on the ends of the guide. Below the stripping'knife 65' and splitting knives 00, rollers 80 and 81A are mounted in the lower forward part of frame section 19, the roller 80 being journaled at its ends in said section and the roller 81 being journaled at its ends in sliding blocks their inner ends in said guides'between which and the blocks 82 are interposed" springs 86 which maintain the roller 81 un der tension in contact with roller 80. The

yrights l0 ofthe frame members frame `section 19 and the'v parts mounted thereupon including the rollers 30 and 81, spring guide 50, knife 65, guide and rolt ers and 81, constitute a unit of themachine which may be termed a pulp-stripping head, and may be removed from the niachineby unscrewing bolts 2G and 2i', particularly for the purpose of decorticating plants having no pulp or similar' portions to be removed. Feed rollers 90 and 91 are mounted in the rear frame section 18 of the side frames 16 and 17, the-ends of roller 90 being' jo'urnaled in said frame section 18 while the ends of the roller 91 are journalled in sliding blocks 99 slidablymounted guides 98 in said frame section. Fletes 9d are bolted on top or" the guides 98 and screws extending through said plates into said'guides have disks 96 on their inner ends in said guides between which andthe blocks 92 arek interposed springs 9'? which main taink roller 91 'under tension in contact with roller '90. ,fr scraper 98 is pivotally mounted on the frame section 19 and is maintained in contact with roller 80 for scraping the same by spring` 99 connected at one end to the scraper and at the other end to one of said frame sections, Scrapers 100 and 101 are pivoted to the bases 90 of rear frame section 18` and are maintained in contact with rollers 80 and 81 by springs 102l and 108 secured at one endrespectively to said scrapers and at their other ends respectively to one of said' bases and to the upper end of one of the uprights 11. Scrapers 104- and 105 are pivoted to the frame section 18 and are maintainedl in contact with rollers 90 and 91 byl springs 106 andk107 securedrespectively at one end to said scrapers andat' their other endsto one of said frame sections. ,A guide 108 pivoted at 109 to the uprights 11 extends downwardly and forwardly from the scraper 100.

@il/Side comp/ag meclaramente-lilo the rear 'upper part of the rear section 18 of the side frames 16 and 17 and to the rear of the upn and 8, are bolted the bases of triangular unes 110 and-1l1 by means of bolts and 11%3, the apex o'tsaiilframcs extendingrearwardly between and adjacent the uprights 9 of frame `members .9 and The frames 110 and 111 are properly spaced apart andr held rigidly together, as a unit, by spaciiig vbars 118 which are bolted their ends to said frames. A shaft 1111 is journaled at its ends in the apex of the frames 110 and 111 and in the upper ends of uprights 9 'of frame members 2 and 8, kand on Vthe outer ends of said shaft collars are secured by set screws 11G and 111. A shaft 118 is journaled atits ends in sliding blocks 119 mounted in ver. tical guides 120 in the upper angle of frames 119 and 111. @u the shafts 111, 117 and 116 inside and adjacent the traine 110 are respectively secured sprockets 121, 122 and and inside and adjacent frame 111 respectively on said shafts are secured sprockets 121, 125 and 126. Chains 130 and 131 extend respectively over the sprockets 121, 122 and 123 and the sprockets 121, 125 and 126. Each of said chains includes links 132 and 133 (see Figs. 10, 11 and 12) pivoted to each other by pivot pins 131. rlhe links 133 are formed with knife bearings 135 in which are reciprocatively mounted the ends of Outwardly extending scraping knives 136, the ends of each kniiie being respectively mount7 ed in the bearings of corresponding links 133 of chains and 131. The knives 136 have outer scraping edges 136. 11n opening 137 entends from the inner edge of each link 133 to the knife containing space in the bearing thereof, in the inner end of which opening is screwed `a plug 136. rlhe inner edge ot' each knife 136 near the ends thereof is provided with notches 139 which register with the openings 137 in links 133, and in each end oit each knife near its outer edge is formed a. notch 110. A plate 111 extends cross the outer end .oi the bearing 135 of each link 133 through said notch 110 in the end oit the knife 136 mounted therein, the plate being secured to the bearing by screws 112. 11 spring 113 is interposed in each opening `137 of the links to engage in 'the notch 139 in the knife 136 and theplug 133, these springs urging the knives 136 outwardly until arrested by the engagement of the inner edges of the notches 110 with the plates 111. Extending inwardly from the trames 110 and 111 between sprockets 126 and 125, sprockets 125 and 121, and sprockets 121 and 126, are flanges 111, 115 and 116 to which backing plates 117, 118, and 119 are secured, by means to the outside oi which are secured bearing plates 117, 116 and 119 by means of screws against which plates bear the inner faces oi' the chains 130 and 131, see Fig. 9. To the bearing blocks 119 are secured screws and-156 which extend upwardly through the upper walls 157 ot the guides 120. Adjusting nuts 15S and 159, respectively, thread on the outer ends of said screws against said guide walls 157 for adjusting the blocks 119 vertically to vary the tautness ot the chains 130 and 131. Lock nuts 160 and 161 screw on screws 155 and 156 against nuts 153 and 159 to lock said nuts to maintain the chains in adjusted position. A plurality oit vertical spring presser plates are arranged side by side between the trame members 2 and 3 and in front of the knives 136 on the forward reaches ot' chains 130 and 131, which extends between the sprockets 122 and 123, and the sprockets 125 and 126 respectively (see Figs. 1 and 9). llach presser plate 170 has a central vertical web 171 (see Figs. 13 and 11) on its forward face and a forked bearing 172 extending forwardly 'from said web, which bearing fits slidably on a web bearing support 173 extending forwardly from the irame member 5, .vhereby the presser plates are supported to reciprocate 'forwardly and backwardly. Embossments 171 and 175 are formed on the web 171 below and above the bearing 172, and studs 176 and 177 extend rearwardly from said web and centrally with relation to said embossments respectively. Set screws 176 and 179 extend forwardly through the frame connecting member 5 in alinernent with the studs 176 and 177, respectively, and carry cups 17 8 and 179 on their forward ends to receive the rear ends of springs 160 and 181, the fici-ward ends o' which respectively surround studs 176 and 177 and bear against the embossinents 171 and 175. lThe rear 'faces olf the presser plates 170 arel formed with Jforwardly inclined lower and upper ends 182 and 133, respectively. F rom the lower ends of the presser plates 170 and .slightly beyond the `cuter edges of the knives 136, exends a curved guide 185 which curves downwardly and rearwardly around the outer edges o1 the knives in the links 133 engaging the sprockets 122 and 12,5. Brackets and 191 are bolted by bolts 192 to the uprights 10 of 'frame nienr bers and respectively, and to the frames 110 and 11.1, respectively, by bolts 193, in which brackets are mounted feed and holder rollers 191 and 195, the ends of roller 191 being journaled in said brackets while the ends oi'v roller 195 are journaled in sliding blocks 196 slidably mounted in angular guides 197 on said brackets. Screws 196 extend through the outer end walls 199 ot' said guides carrying disks 299 within the guides between which and the blocks 196 are interposed springs 201 which maintain the roller under tension in Contact with roller 1.91. An inside tail scraper plate 292 is bolted, by bolts 293., to the lower rear edges ot :trames 110 and 111 tangentially from the top oit roller 195 and in slight pressing engagement with the outer ed ges of the knives 136 onthe .lower reaches ot the chains 130 and 131, which extend betr-reen the sprockets 122 and 121 and sprockets 125 and 121, respectively. Scrapers 205 and 206 are pivoted on the brackets 190 and 191 and are held in scraping engagement with the rollers 191 and 195 belmv'their point of' contact by springs 207 and 293 which are secured at one end to said Scrapers and at their other ends to brackets.

Inside scraping m@cllmnsmrlielow the outside scraping mechanism just described,

bearing tra1nesi210 and 211 are bolted by bolts 21.2 to the uprights 9 and l0 of theI main trame members 2 and 3 respectively. In said 'Frames are bearings 218 in which are journaled the ends ot a shaft 21-1-7` extending through a drum 215. @n the heads 2.16 oi the drum are annular collars or flanges 217 surrounding the shaft 2111 and. extending into and journaled in the hollow bearings 218 on the frames 210 and 211j the bearings 218 being eccentric to the bearings 213 also on said traine, thus journaling the shalt 214; and drinn 215 eccentrically to each other. The drinn heads 216 are connected by slats 219, (see Figs. 15. 18 and 20) the ends of: which lit in notches 220 arranged at a suitable distance apart in the peripheryY o1 the heads and are secured to the heads in said notches by screws 221. Secured to the shaft 2111 near its ends, and interposed between the latter and the drum journals 217, are drum drivers 222 and from the periphery at the outer ends oiI each of which extend two dogs 228 arranged diametrically opposite each other, which dogs are adapted to engage arcuate lugs on the outer ends oit ournals 217 to drive the drum when said sha ,it is rotated. Engaging plates 225 and 226 are respectively secured to the dogs and the lu by screws 227 whichplates take the wear in the engagement olt said dogs and lugs. rllhe inner ends of the drives 222 are Jformed with annular )flanges 228. The intermediate portion 229 oi"- shalft 214A between the drives 222 is slightly larger than the end portions oi the shaft and is formed with longitudinal lgroove l'iearings 28 for scraping knivesv 231., the inner edges oiz which are `formed with journals which are maintained respeiiftively in said bearings by the engagement ot flanges with lugs 238 on the enos ot said knives at their inner edges. Slotted knife `sniiiles are s* arranged. at the periphery oi. the drinn heads 216, in which reciprocat(` llai'iges 22l5pro jecting from the ends oi' knives 231 at theirk outer edges, the slots 286 ot said guides diverging to peruiit the knives to oscillate in their bearings 280 as the shatt 2111 and drinn 215 rotate cccentricaliy with relation to each other, the knives being yu'ojected bcyoud and withdrawn withiii the periphery of the drinn as the shatt and drum are so rotated as illustrated .in Fig'. 18. The knives 231 have outer i, Taping edc-jes 287. itt the outer scraping ed ot the knives rear of the drinn. 215 are mounted s i, side on traine connecting ineniber 6 a nlurality o1 concaved presser plates 2410 (sce Figs. 1, 2 21 and lllach presser plete `is formed with a pair ol rearwardly extending Jliorked-shaped bearings 241 and 242 which. lit loosely and slide on supporting lugs 248 and 211s respectively which project for wardly from traine connecting member 6L @n the rear face of said presser' plates near the lower and upper edge and in the center thereof are formed spring sockets 245 and 246, in which rest the forward ends oit' springs 247 and 2418 respectively, the rear ends et which lit in cups 24-9 and 250 on the forward ends of set screws 251 and 252 the screws 251 being mounted in and extending through a bracket 253 depending from the lower edge oi"- frame connecting member 6 and the set screws 252 being mounted in and extending through the upper part of.

said frame connecting member. The screws 252 and springs 2418 are arranged so that the springs 2418 bear horizontally against the upper portions ot the presser plates 240 while the set screws 251 and springs 2117 are arranged so that the springs 247 bear against the lower rear portions ci the presser plates radially toward the center of shaft 214i, giving the maximum pressure of said springs upon the lower portion of said presser plates toward the scraping edges ot knives 231. The outermost presser plates 2li() have outside flanges 255 which extend over the end of the knives 281 and the drum 215 and preventthe liber strips passing between the knives and presser plates from working out sideways from the knives and drum. Frames 260 and 261 are bolted tol the uprights 9 and 1() ot the frame members 2 and by bolts 262, in which 'frames are mounted iteed rollers 268 and 264-., the ends of roller 263 being journaled in said. Yframes, while the ends of roller 264; are journaled in blocks 265, slidably mounted in guides 266 in said trames. `Set screws 267 extend through the end walls 268 of guides 266 and car y their inner ends disks 269, between which :ind the blocks 265 'are interposed springs 270 which urge roller 2641 into contart with roller 268. To angular brackets 271 on the rear of uprights 10, the .ends ot a 'frame men'iber 272 are bolted by bolts 278. on which are slidably mounted side' by side close to the edges of knives 281 a plurality of outside tail scraper plates 2711 (see Figs. 1 2 30 and 31), said plates each including a slide n'ieinber 275 provided with slots 276 through which extend bolts 277 screwing .into the trame member 272, whereby the plates are maintained iu slidin position ou said 'trarne member. The traine moml'ier 272 has a ltorward upturned liange 27 8 in which are kscrewed a plurality or] set suews 279, which carry disks 280 on their inner ends. Each slide member 275 has any upstanding lug 281, between which and each screw disk 280 and for arljusting` the limit of said more nient. @n the outside of the outermost scraper plates 27-1 are formed sockets 236 and on the inside of the frames 269 and 261 are formed sockets 23.7 in which sockets are interposed the ends of springs 233 which press the scraper plates close together and prevent any material from the fibrous plants from passing` therebetween. Similar springs 239 and 290 are interposed between the uprights 1.0 and the outermost presser plates 170 and between the frames 269 and 261 and the outermost presser plates 2st() whereby said plates are pressed togetherrto prevent any fibrous material from passing therebetween. drum scraper 291 is pivotally nioruited above the plates 274; and a rod 292 secured its ends in the uprights 10 and is held in Contact with the periphery of the drum by sprino' 293 secured to the scraper and to upright 10. Scraper plates 294 and 295 are pivoted in the frames 260 and 261 and are held in Contact with the lower surface of the rollers 263 and 26d respectively by springs 296 and 297 connected at one end to arms 293 and 299 extending` respectively from the scrapers and at their other ends to uprights 10 and 9 respectively.

'Tranmuisson.- drive shaft 30() is journaled in bearings 301 bolted to the inside of uprights 9 of frame members 2 andL 3. d.. pulley is secured on the left end of said shaft to which power may be applied through a belt, not shown. @n the right end of drive shaft 300 is secured a sprocket 303 and on the ri lit end ot shaft is secured a sprocket 304; over which sprockets extend chain 305 by means of which the shaft 214i is driven from. said drive shaft A sprocket 306 is also secured on the riwlit end of shaft 214; and a sprocket 30T is secured on the richt end ourn al of roller 99 over which sprockets extends a chain 393 whereby said roller is driven from the shaft 214. if sprocket 309 is also secured on the right end of shaft and a sprocket 319 is secured on the right end of a. jack shaft 311 journaled in bearings 312 in the uprig'l'its 9 of frame members 2 and over which sprockets extend a chain 313r whcrcbjfsaid jack i driven from shaft 2111A. A gear 31d is cured on the right end of' said jack sha airl a gear is secured on the right end of shaft 111i which meshes with `,O 'ear 3141 whereby the shaft 114 and chains 130 and 131 are driveny from the ack shaft 311. thus driving the outsides scraping` mechanism. 1 sprocket 316 is secured to the end of the shaft of the roller .19 (see Fig. and sprocket 317 is secured on the sliC t of the roller 30` over which sprockets extend chain 313 whereby thev roller 39 is driven fromthe roller 90. On the left end journals of rollers and 91 are secured internieshing gears 329r and`321'by`1neans of which the roller 91 is driven from the roller 99. @n the left end journals of rollers 90, 19st and 263 are secured sprockets 322, and 3211 respectively, over which extend a chain whereby the rollers 1911 and 263 are driven from the roller 90. 15in idler 326 is secured on the left end of shaft 117 over which travels chain whereby the chain is maintained in effective driving engagement with sprocket 323. lnterineshing p'inions and 331 are secured on the left end journals of rollers 36 and 31 whereby the roller 31 is driven from the roller 39. lntermeshing pinions 320 and are secured on the left end journals of rollers 90 and 30 whereby the roller 39 is driven from the roller 99. gear 331i is secured on the left end journal of roller 31 which meshes with gear whereby the roller is driven from the roller 30. lntermeshinp,` pinions and are secured on the left end ournals of rollers 194k and 195 whereby theroller 195 is driven from the roller 194:. lnterineshing pinions 331,7 and 339 are secured on the left end jourA nais of rollers and 2% whereby the roller is driven frointhe roller 263.

The relative sizes of the rollers 90 and 91 and 30 and 31 and the sprockets 316 and 317 are such thatpthe rollers 90 and 91 feed faster than the rollers 30 and 31 in order to draw the fibrous strips taut between the rollers 90 and 91 and the rollers 30 and 31. The rollers 90 and 91, 191 and 195, and 263 and 264 are so geared through the medium of sprockets 322, 323 and 324 and chain 325 that tney respectively feed the fibrous strips at the same rate of speed. The shafts 114 and 214 are so geared that the outside and inside scraping mechanisms tra-vel faster than the feeding` speed of feed rollers 90 and 91, 191i and 195 and 263 and 264:.

Lubrication-Oil cups 350 are mounted on the upper ends of tubes 351 which are secured in and extend through flanges 144 and plates 1417. The links 133 are provided with oil ducts 352 leading;` from their inner surfaces to the pivots 131 and the plugs 138 are provided with oil ducts extending therethrough. Oil is delivered from the cups through tubes 351 between the chain bearing plates 1111 and the inner surfaces of the chains 130 and 131, and then through ducts 352 and to the pivots 134C and between the bearing surfaces of the knives 136 and guides 135, thus eliminating the friction between said bearing plates and chains, between said pivots and the links 133 and between the bearing surfaces of said knives and guides.

An oil cup 360 is mounted in a bracket 361 secured to the frame 211, from which cup a tube 362 leads into a gland 363 tted in one end of the shaft 214. The shaft 214 is formed with a` central longitudinal bore 364 leading from the gland 363. Duets 365 lead Li o 229 and at suitable distances therebetween,

the circular ducts 366 communicating with the grooves 236 .in said bearing portion. @il passes from cup 360 lthrough tube 362, gland 363, bore 364, ducts 365 and ducts 366 into the bearing. grooves 230, thus oiling the 'knife bearing f l pemtz'onrhe forward ends of strips of fibrous plants, such for example as shown in Fig. 26, are introduced side by side between the. feed rollers and 31 the inside downward. Said feed rollers feed the stock forwardly over the spring guide 47 which lguides the forward ends of the stock over the pulp-stripping knife 65 and under the guide between the fee-d rollers 90 and 911. The feed rollers Iand 91 being' pressed togetlier by springs 97 and the rollers 30 and 31 being adjusted slightly apart by nuts 37 and the rollers 90 and k91 traveling faster than the'rollers 30 and 31, the fibrous stock `is c rawn taut between the rollers 90, 91, 30 and 31 pressing down the spring guides 47 and drawn over the knife 65, the blade edge T2 of which cuts thepulp 31'() (see `Fig. 26) from the under side of the stock strips, close to the fiber 371 in said strips leaving the i strips as shown in Fig. 27. The-pulp thus cut is guided downward by the knife fra-me 66 between the pulp discharge rollers 30 and 81, which draw the pulp taut over the splitting knives 60 causing it to be split into longitudinal shreds and deliver onto the chute 39 from which it drops into a basket (not shown) below the chute a byH iroduct. The feed rollers 90 and 91 feed the stock with the pulp cut therefrom, as described, into the outside scraping mechanism between the edges of knives 136 and the presser plates 170. The shaft 114, chains 130 and 131 and knives 136 traveling faster than the feed rollers, said feed rollers holding sait stock tightly between them, the edges 136 of the knives 136 scrape the outside skin or cuticler 372 off the stock leaving it as shown in Fig. 23. rlhe knives 136 are maintained at right angles in contact with `the stock by the engagement of lugs 135 on the links 133 which hold the links of the chains stra J it, while traveling between sprockets and acting upon the stock. TheA forward ends of the stock are' then guided by guide 135 between the feed. rollers 194 and 195. llllien the tail ends of the `stock strips pass from between and are released by the rollers 90 and 91, the scraper knives 136 traveling faster than the feed rollers 194 and 195, carry the tails of the stockr forward and whip them over said rollers'onto the inside tail scraper plate 202inside upward. The

knives 136 passing over said scraper plate engage and scrape the remaining pulp 370 olf the inside ofthe'tails of the stock; Thek feed rollers 194 and 195 feed the fibrous strips into the inside scraping mechanism between the knives 231 and the concaved presser plates 240. The drum 215 is rot-ated bythe engagement of driver dogs 223 with the lugs 224, the dogs and lugs being in such relation that continuous torque is applied to the drum thereby, while the knives 231 are carried around by the drum by the engagement of the slats 219 with 'the knives. The dogs and lugs at one end of the drum are preferably arranged at ninety degrees to the i dogs and lugs at the other end thereof. The shaft 214 and the knives 231 traveling faster than the feed rollers 194 and 195 the strips of stock are drawn tautpbetween the drum and the presser plates 240, said knives scraping the remaining pulp 370 ofi' the inside of the strips.l leaving only lthe liber 371, as shown in Fig. 29, in their full length kwith the erception of a piece of the outside skin 372 on the tails of the liber sheets. From between the knives 231 and ,the presser plates 240 the strips. pass between the feed rollers r,263 and 264. When the strips have passed from between the feed rollers 194 and 195, the knives 231 traveling faster than the feed rollers 263 and 264 and the librous strips, carry the tails of the strips forward and whipthem around the rollers 263 and 264 upon the outside scraper plates 274 with the voutside of the stock strip facing upwardly or contiguous to the drum 215. The knives passing over said plates scrape the skin 272 ofl" the outside face of the tail ends of the fibrous strips. The feed rollers and 264 feed the remaining fiber strips 1 forward and deposit them below.

A cleaner 330 is provided for cleaning the pulp from the knives 136 after they have scraped said strips, Said cleaner includes two pulleys 331 and 332 journaled in brackets 333 on the rearof the frames and 111, an d a belt 334 traveling over said pulleys, with blades 335 projecting from said belt at such intervals that they are engaged by the forward faces of the knives projecting from the upper rear reaches of the chains 130 and 131 between the sprockets 121 'and 123 and the sprockets wardly carrying the belt around the pulleys. The-pulleys 331 and 332 are journaled it such distrnices from the chains lthat they engaged by the forward faces yofthe knives at the pulley 331 and gradually withdraw outwardly over said faces and escape the saine at the pulley 382 the blades and belt are moved around the pulleys, thus wiping and cleaning the pulp from the knives.

Any liber that may break on between the knives 136 is discharged therefrom by the spreading of the knives around the sprockets 121 and 124 and bythe centrifugal action of said knives.

The eccentric movement of the drum 21.5

124 and ,126 and are moved up- 1` f,

Cil

and shaft 2li causes the knives 255i to project outwardly from the periphery of the drum when adjacent the presser plates 240 to scrape the pulp oft the inside of the fibrous strips, and to idraw within the periphery of the drum i c; passing beyond the presser plates @if-l1, d positing the pulp clinging thereto upon the peiphery of the drum, from which the pulp is scraped olf by the scraper 2M, thus cleaning the knives and the drum for their next operation.

rlhe edges of alternate knives 231 are straight and serrated, and the rserrations of each serrated blade are staggered with relation to the Serrat-ions of the next serrated blades, as shown in Fig. 32. The se rations served to comb the material covering the frberfwhile the straight edges of the next blades scrape the combed material from the fiber, thus mosteffectively removing the material from the fiber.

The slats 219 are of steel with hardened edges which form hard bearing surfaces for the knives rhe slats may be removed when worn, by unscrewing the screws 221, and new slats screwed to the drum heads in place thereof.

rlhe inner ends of the slotsQBG are inclined outwardly toward the axis of the drum 215 so that any material that falls in said slots will be'directed by said inclined ends outwardly from the drum, thus preventing the ymaterial from falling within and choking up the drum.

A platform Ll0() may be mounted on the forward part of the machine upon which the operator may stand.

The machine being mounted on runners 7 may be drawn over the ground from place to place for convenience of operation of the machine.

Having described our invention we claim as new and wish to secure by Lette rs Fatent:

l. A decorticating machine comprising means for preliminarily removing the pulp from strips of fibrous stock; means for subsequently scraping the outer cuticle and pulp from the stock, said means including traveling knives and yicldably mounted pressure plates, between which said stock is fed, said knives being ieldably'mounted; and means for finally removing` the pulp from the inside face of the stock, said means including a plurality of rigidly mounted and moving knives 2. A decorticating machine comprising mechanism for preliminarily cutting pulp from stri` s of fibrous stock; means for. scraping tiie outer cut-icle and pulp from the stock comprising a traveling belt having yieldably mounted scraping knives and pressure plates arranged oppositeto said knives and between which the librous stock passes; and a mechanism for scraping the pulp vfrom the inner face of the stock comprising rigidly mounted and revolving knives, and pressure plates arranged opposite said knives,

between which said stock passes.

3. A decorticating machine comprising mechanism for removing pulp from fibrous stock in strips;vmeans for subsequently actring upon the stock comprising a traveling belt and pressure plates between which the stock is passed, said belt having a plurality of scraping knives -thereon mounted to yield vunder pressure in a direction at substantially right angles relatively to the stock; and means for finally acting upon the stock comprising a rotating drum and pressure plates opposing the drum between which the stock passes, said drum having a plurality of rigid knives thereon.

4C. A decortieating machine comprisingi .mechanism for removing sulp from fibrous stock in strips; means for subsequently acting upon the stock including a plurality of scraping knives mounted to travel in a straight line while acting uponthe stock, pressure plates opposing said knives and between which the stock passes; and means for finally acting upon the stock including rotating scraping knives and pressure plates opposing said knives.

5. A decorticating machine comprising mechanismy for removing pulp from fibrous `stock in strips; means for subsequently acting upon the stock including a plurality of scraping knives mounted to travel in a straight line while acting upon the stock and yieldably mounted pressure plates opposing said knives between which the stock passes, said knives being yieldably mounted to move in a direction at right angles to the stock under pressure; and means for finally acting upon the stock including rigidly mounted rotating knives and pressure plates opposing said knives between which the stock passes. l decorticating machine comprisingmechanism for acting'upon the stock including a plurality of scraping knives mounted to travel in a straight line while acting upon the stock, pressure plates op posing said knives and between which the stock passes; and means for subsequently -acting upon the stock including rotating knives and pressure plates opposing said knives between which the stock passes.

7. A deeorticating machine comprising means for lacting upon the stock including a plurality of scraping knives mounted to travel in a straight line while acting upon the stock and yieldably mounted pressure plates opposing said knives between which the stock passes, said knives being yieldably mounted to move under pressure in a direc tion at substantiallyy right angles to the stock; and other meansy for acting on the stock including rigidly mounted rotating knives and pressure plates opposing said knives between which the stock passes.

memoir 8, A, decorticating machine comprising two sets of feeding means, a mechanism interposed between said sets of feeding means including` a plurality of scraping knives mounted to travel in a straight line while upon fibrous stock, pressurerplates opposing the lmives and one arranged after each set of feeding means, the second set of feeding means acting to discharge the stock, a second mechanism for acting upon the stock including rotary scraping knives and` adapted to receive the stock discharge from said second set of feeding means, a third stock and the rearcnd of the other sur-l face of the stock.

9. A decorticating machine and outside scraping mechanisn'i to act upon the outer face of librous stock, and inside scraping mechanism adapted to act upon the rinner face of fibrous stock; said outside scrapingl mechanism including feed rollers and discharge rollers for drawing the stock to the mechanism, moving scraping knives to travel in a straight line while acting upon the stock and interposed between said feed and discharge rollers, a pressure plate arranged between said rollers and another pressure plate arranged beyond the discharge roller,` said plates opposing said knives; the inside` scrapingmechanism ,being adapted to receive the stock from said discharge rollers and comprising aplurality of rotatable knives, rolls for discharging the stock from said inside scraping'mechanism and pressure plates opposingsaid rotatable knives and arranged on each side of said last mentioned discharge rolls; and means for actuating` the feed and discharge rollers at substantially the same rate of speed and for actuating said mechanism `at a `greater rate of speed whereby each `mechanism is caused to act uponthe` forward end of the stock on one face and the rear end portion of the stock on its other face.

l0. A decorticating machine comprising a mechanism for scraping the outside face of fibrous stock, including traveling knives wvhich move in a straight line when acting upon the stock, feeding and discharge rollers positioned relatively to said knives for moving the stock through said mechanism at one rate of speed, a scraper surface opposite said knives with which the latter cooperate when acting upon the stock, said for ,actuating said scraping knives being adapted to move at a greater rate of speed than said rollers, another scraping surface positioned beyond the discharge rollers, whereby the tail portion of the inner face of the stock will be acted on by said knives; and inside scraping mecha; nism for the stock including rotary knives adapted to receive the stock from said dis-t charge rollers, a set of discharge rollers for said inside scraping mechanism, scraping surfaces to cooperate with said rotary knives one arrangedfonreach side of said last-mentioned discharge rollers, said latter discharge rollers operating at a slower speed than said rotary knives, whereby the tail portion of the outer surface of the stock is operated upon.

11. ln a machine of the character described, a pairfof feed rollers, a second pairi of feed rollers to grip fibrous stock tighter than the first pair of feed rollers, pulp stripping means including knives interposed be tween said first and' second pair` of rollers,

lmeans for rotating said second feed rollers faster than said first feed rollers to drawv the stock taut between said pairs of rollers and over said stripping means,y whereby the pulp issevered from the stock, and a pair of discharge rollers below said knives for discharging the pulp as it is severed from the stock. f v

12.1n a machine of the character described, a pair of feed rollers, a second pair of feed rollers to grip fibrous stock tighter than the first feed roller, pulp stripping means interposed between said first and second pairs of rollers, a guide interposed between said first feed rollers `and the stripping means for guiding the stock over the latter to said second rollers, and means for rotating the second pair of feed rollers faster than the first pair of feed rollers to draw the stock taut between said pairs of rollers and' over said stripping means, so that the pulp will be severed from the stock 110 said' guide yielding under the pressure of said stock thereagainst.

ln a machine of the character described, a pair of feed rollers, a second pair of feedrollers to grip fibrous stock tighter than said first feed rollers, pulp-stripping` means interposed between said first and second pairs of feed rollers, a plurality of yieldable guides independently mounted side by side between said first feed rollers and said stripping means for guiding the `stock over the latterto said second rollers, and .means for rotating said second feed rollers faster than said first feed rollers to draw the stock taut between said pairs of rollers and over said stripping means, whereby the pulp is severed from the stocky said guides yielding independently under the pressure of the stock vthereagainstl 14. In a machine of the character de- 

